# US 7,402,148 B2 · Orthotic protective device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,402,148 B2 - Document ID: US7402148B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/623,271 - Filed: 2003-07-15 - Published: 2004-01-29 - Granted: 2008-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2002-07-16 - Assignees: Allsport Dynamics, Inc. - Inventors: Jeffrey L. Brewer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7402148B2 ## CPC - A61F 5/013: {for the arms, hands or fingers (A61F5/0118 takes precedence)} - A61F 2005/0134: {with two orthogonal pivots} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract An orthotic protective device collectively including a base unit connected to a metacarpal unit by a hinge system designed to protect and prevent hyperextension and hyperflexion movements of the metacarpal, carpal, radius and ulna regions. The base unit and metacarpal unit includes a longitudinal support member and a casing, respectively, lined with at least one pad having a tongue. At least one releasable fastener is mated to the support member and casing and extends to the tongue of the pad. Apertures of the base unit are mated and connected to apertures of the hinge system which form an articulated joint allowing the hinge system to move in an upward manner allowing for natural extension of the user's wrist and in a downward fashion for unlimited flexion motion. The base unit and the hinge system may both have at least one stop formed thereon; and as these stops come into contact with one another, it limits the flexion, extension and radial-ulnar deviation. Further, an aperture of the metacarpal unit is mated and fastened to an aperture in the hinge system by a swivel joint which allows for lateral movement of the user's wrist. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An orthotic device to be worn by a user, comprising: a base unit having an elongated support member, at least one support pad adjacently positioned on and attached to said support member, a fastener extending between said support member and said support pad, and a plurality of apertures in said support member each capable of receiving a connector therein; said base unit conforming substantially about a forearm of the user; a metacarpal unit having a metacarpal internal pad positioned on and attached to a casing and an attachment member between said casing and said metacarpal internal pad; and a hinge system connecting said base unit to said metacarpal unit, said hinge system having a shell with a shell interior pad positioned on said shell, said hinge system movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit “by a plurality of connectors” when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots vertically about a pair of connectors in a first direction relative to the base unit, and the hinge system further including another connector forming a swivel joint for movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots laterally in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction relative to the base unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated support member has at least one recess formed therein allowing said fastener to access said support pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated support member, said shell and said casing are each made of a material selected from the group consisting of: epoxy matrix carbon fiber, moldable carbon fiber, aramid fiber composite material, plastic and thermoplastic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said at least one support pad, said metacarpal interior pad and said shell internal pad being made of a material selected from the group consisting of: open cell foam, closed cell foam, cotton, a viscoelastic polymer-gel or air filled member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving said metacarpal unit to a 150° angle in a vertical, flexing fashion with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said support pad is detachably affixed on said support member, where said internal pad is removably attached on said casing, and where said interior pad is detachably fastened on said shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The orthotic device as recited in claim 1, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving said metacarpal unit to a 45° angle in a vertical extension fashion with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 9 An orthotic device, comprising: a base unit having an elongated support member, at least one support pad adjacently positioned on and attached to said support member, a fastener extending between said support member and said support pad, and a plurality of apertures in said support member each capable of receiving a connector therein; a metacarpal unit having a metacarpal internal pad mounted onto and projecting from a casing and an attachment member between said casing and said metacarpal internal pad, the casing configured for positioning under the dorsal surface of the user's hand; a hinge system connecting said base unit to said metacarpal unit, “by a plurality of connectors” said hinge system having a shell with a shell interior pad positioned on said shell, such that the metacarpal unit pivots vertically about a pair of connectors in a first direction relative to a stationary base unit, and the hinge system further including another connector forming a swivel joint for movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots laterally in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction relative to the base unit; and said metacarpal unit swivels in a lateral fashion due to said hinge system relative to said unit when said orthotic device is worn by the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving said metacarpal unit to a 45° angle in vertical extension fashion with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving said metacarpal unit to a 150° angle in a vertical, flexing fashion with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop thereon to limit extension. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, where said support pad is detachably affixed on said support member, and said metacarpal pad is removably attached on said casing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The orthotic device as recited in claim 9, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation. ### Claim 16 An orthotic device for rehabilitation of a user's wrist, comprising: a base unit having an elongated support member and conforming substantially to a forearm of the user, a support pad at least partially on said support member, a fastener extending between said support member and support pad and a plurality of apertures in said support member each capable of receiving a connector therein, said elongated support member having at least one recess formed therein allowing a fastener to access said support pad; a metacarpal unit having an internal pad at least partially on a casing and an attachment member between said casing and said internal pad, the casing configured for positioning under the dorsal surface of the user's hand; and a hinge system connecting said base unit to said metacarpal unit, said hinge system movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit “by a plurality of connectors” when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots vertically about a pair of connectors in a first direction relative to the base unit, and the hinge system further including another connector forming a swivel joint for movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots laterally in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction relative to the base unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The orthotic device as recited in claim 16, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The orthotic device as recited in claim 16, wherein said elongated support member, said shell and said casing are each made of a material selected from the group consisting of: epoxy matrix carbon fiber, moldable carbon fiber, aramid fiber composite material, plastic and thermoplastic material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The orthotic device as recited in claim 16, wherein said support pad and said metacarpal interior pad each being made of a material selected from the group consisting of: open cell foam, closed cell foam, cotton, a viscoelastic polymer-gel or air filled member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The orthotic device as recited in claim 16, where said support pad is detachably affixed on said support member, and said metacarpal pad is removably attached on said casing. ### Claim 21 (depends on 16) The orthotic device as recited in claim 16, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop thereon to limit extension. ### Claim 22 An orthotic device to be worn by a user, comprising: a base unit having an elongated support member and a support pad at least partially on said support member, a fastener extending between said support member and said support pad, and a plurality of apertures in said support member each capable of receiving a connector therein; a metacarpal unit having a metacarpal pad at least partially on an external casing and an attachment member between said external casing and said metacarpal pad; and a hinge system connecting said base unit to said metacarpal unit, said hinge system having a shell and a plurality of apertures in said shell each capable of accepting a corresponding connector therein, and said metacarpal unit swivels in a lateral fashion due to said hinge system, when said orthotic device is worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots vertically about a pair of connectors in a first direction relative to the base unit, and the hinge system further including another connector forming a swivel joint for movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots laterally in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction relative to the base unit. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The orthotic device as recited in claim 22, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving up to a 45° angle in a vertical extension with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The orthotic device as recited in claim 22, where said support pad is detachably affixed on said support member, and said metacarpal pad is removably attached on said casing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The orthotic device as recited in claim 22, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon to limit extension. ### Claim 26 An orthotic device to be worn by a user, comprising: a base unit having an elongated support member and a support pad at least partially on said support member, a fastener extending between said support member and said support pad, and a plurality of apertures in said support member each capable of receiving a connector therein; a metacarpal unit having an internal pad at least partially on an external casing and an attachment member between said casing and said internal pad; a hinge system connecting said base unit to said metacarpal unit, “by a plurality of connectors” said hinge system having a shell and said metacarpal unit swivels in a lateral fashion relative to said base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots vertically in a first direction about a pair of connectors relative to a stationary base unit, and the hinge system further including another connector forming a swivel joint for movably connecting the metacarpal unit to the base unit when worn by the user, such that the metacarpal unit pivots laterally in a second direction substantially transverse to the first direction relative to a stationary base unit; and said support pad is detachably affixed on said support member, said internal pad is removably attached on said casing, and said interior pad is detachably fastened on said shell. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The orthotic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The orthotic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said hinge system is capable of moving said metacarpal unit to a 45° angle in a vertical extension fashion with respect to the base unit. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The orthotic device as recited in claim 26, wherein said elongated support member and said shell each have at least one stop formed thereon, wherein each of said stop abuts one another to limit extension, flexion and ulnar-radial deviation.